Former Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Spokesperson Supports Al-Sisi

In an interview with Egyptian media, former Muslim Brotherhood spokesperson Kemal Helbawy as made the rather astonishing statement that he supported the Presidential candidacy of Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and would be willing to serve as an advisor in his government. The relevant passage from the Daily News Egypt interview follows:

Kemal Helbawy

“You supported Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi as president. What makes you think he would make a good president?

The country is in need of a good leader. In the army they are punctual and well organised. Secondly, [Al-Sisi] has a vision. Our country was going to become another Syria and he and the military forces saved the country with the people from becoming another Syria. He is very polite, neat, and pious- a good Muslim. We met a few times and he is very close to the people. When we were discussing, he only spoke in his turn.

Whether he’s in power or not, the people love him and I think he will be able to help the country.

When Al-Sisi becomes president, would you accept any role in his government?

Not as an executive. As an adviser, yes. I am over 75 and it is better to write and advise orally or written. They need the younger generation to work in executive posts. But if they need any advice, I’m ready to give it.

According to his resume, Kemal Helbawy is the former official spokesperson of the Muslim Brotherhood in the West, one of the founders of the Saudi World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), and one of the founders of the Muslim Council of Britain, a U.K. umbrella organization comprised largely of Muslim Brotherhood organizations. He is currently the director of the London-based Center for the Study of Terrorism (CFSOT) which purports to be an anti-terror think-tank.

In April 2011, it was reported that Helbawy had returned to Egypt after 23 years of “voluntary exile” in the UK.

In April 2012, Helbawy resigned from the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood following the group’s decision to nominate a presidential candidate.

In July 2012, Helbawy called for the U.S. to be “brought to its knees”at a rally for the release of Omar Abd Al-Rahman, the so-called “Blind Sheikh” imprisoned in the US for his role in the 1991 World Trade Center bombing. Helbawy has made many other incendiary statements including that the “Zionist Movement obeys the orders of a single official and praising Osama Bin Laden as a “leader of Jihad.” The Investigative Project has published an article titled “Ex Brotherhood Official Showcases Islamist Doublespeak” that examined Helbawy’s contradictory and deceptive statements.